(P24-009-23) Body Composition and Complementary Feeding in Children 6–23 Months Receiving Food and Nutritional Assistance of WFP in Northern Senegal

Objectives: In Senegal, despite considerable efforts, acute malnutrition in children under five is a public health problem in the northern area. To fight against malnutrition, World Food Program (WFP) has set up a food and nutritional assistance program in the department of Matam. This study aims to assess baseline food and nutritional status of children 6-23 months from vulnerable households before the start of the program.

Methods: A baseline cross-sectional study was conducted among 154 children 6-23 months from 7 villages of District Matam. WHO’s infant and young child feeding indicators were assessed. Nutrition status measured by anthropometry (weight, height, MUAC) and body composition (fat free mass, fat mass, adiposity) using deuterium dilution technic.

Results: Overall, 55.8% of children had diversified diet and 38.3% received the minimum food frequency meals the day before the survey. Over 25% of children received a minimum acceptable diet, which is low in the youngest children 6-8 months (2.6%) and in non-breastfed children (3.25%). Acute malnutrition affects 23.4% of children, including 3.9% suffering from SAM. Stunting affects 20.1% of children and was more prevalent in boys (P = 0.009). The prevalence of excess adiposity was 21.9%. The fat free mass index was significantly higher in boys than in girls (P = 0.043). Wasting leads to deficits in fat free mass and fat mass. Stunting was associated with a low fat mass (P = 0.009). Low birth weight appeared as a predictor of stunting (OR: 5.9; P = 0.002). Nutritional status was significantly and positively associated with dietary diversity (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Undernutrition and excess adiposity are big concerns in children 6-23 months as well as child-feeding indicators in Matam district. Children malnutrition associated with their body composition and dietary diversity. Therefore, there is a strong need for WFP to promote good breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices under the food and nutritional assistance program.

Funding Sources: Laboratoire de Recherche en Nutrition et Alimentation Humaine, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar-Sénégal